Chamber questions new blimp

On Wednesday, Newsday reported that Government has extended the lease on Skyship 600 (which came to TT in January on a three-month trial period at a cost of US$100,000 per month) and will purchase a new airship from Worldwide Aeros, suppliers of the first airship which came to TT in December 2005. That airship, an Aeros 40 B, was acquired by Government at a cost of $27 million.

Another $23 million was spent to add security equipment on the Aeros 40 B.

Sources said the new airship would be purchased at no additional cost to the Government and negotiations were ongoing with Worldwide Aeros to take back the first airship. National Security Minister Martin Joseph has boasted that the hi-tech surveillance of these airships will greatly assist local law enforcement agencies in the war against crime.

However in a statement yesterday, the chamber said the population needs to know how effective the two airships have been in the fight against crime. The chamber added that only when these questions are answered should the decision to invest in a new airship be taken.

The chamber said in the absence of “specific and detailed information”, it appears that the two airships had their challenges and it was concerned that the new airship does not suffer the same fate as its predecessors.